The defense of the aunsvvere to the Admonition against the replie of T.C. By Iohn VVhitgift Doctor of Diuinitie. In the beginning are added these. 4. tables. 1 Of dangerous doctrines in the replie. 2 Of falsifications and vntruthes. 3 Of matters handled at large. 4 A table generall.

Chap. 4. the. 1. Diuision.

Admonition.

The fourth. Then election was made by the common (r) consent of the whole Churche:* 1.1 now euery one picketh out for himselfe some notable good benefice, he obteineth the nexte aduou∣son, by money or by fauour, and so thinketh himselfe sufficiently chosen.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 42. Sect. 4. 5. 6.

To proue that the election was then made by the common con∣sent* 1.2 of the whole Churche, you quote the first of the Actes. I tolde you before master Caluines iudgement of that place: there is no mention of electing by any common consent. And in the place by you quoted, whiche is the. 26. verse, it is declared howe they gaue foorth their lottes, and that the lot fell on Matthias, and that he was by a common consente counted with the eleuen Apostles: heere is no mention of any election. But when he was extraordinarily through Gods prouidence by lot appoynted, then they al counted him, and esteemed him as one of the Apostles, where as before, some of them woulde haue had Barsabas.

I thinke your meaning is not to haue alwayes two at once to be presented to the ministerie, and then one of them to be chosen by lotte: I knowe none of that opinion. Wherefore this example is

singular and extraordinarie, and therefore no generall rule to be followed.

If any man seeketh a benefice extraordinarily, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉r▪ vnlawfully. If any man desire honorem, the honor, not onus, the burthen: opes, the riches, not opus, the vvorke: he hath to answere for it: but I trust you wyll not accuse all, thoughe perhaps you knowe some, I meane of your selues, and peraduenture your owne selfe.

Admonition.

The fifthe. Then the congregation (s) 1.3 had authoritie to call ministers: in steade therof now they runne, they ride, and by vnlawfull sute and buying, preuente other suters also.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 42. Sect. 2. 3.

To proue that the congregation had then authoritie to call mi∣nisters: you alleage the sixte of the Actes, whiche place of the Actes I touched before: It speaketh not of Ministers of the worde, but of Deacons, whiche were appoynted to make prouision for the poore only (as you say) neyther dyd the multitude of the Disciples (for so they be called) electe them before they were willed so to doe by the twelue Apostles.

It may be that some vse to runne and ryde, and by vnlawfull sute* 1.4 and buying preuente others, and it maye be that you haue expe∣rience heereof: but all doe not so, this is the faulte of the man, not of the callyng: you maye not ascribe mens infirmities to a lawfull order. The rule maye bee good, thoughe it bee by some broken.

T. C. Pag. 28. Sect. 4.

It hathe bin likewyse shewed, what was in that election extraordinarie, and what pertey∣neth to the ordinarie callings. And in the sixte of the Actes it was shewed, if the Deacons should not be thrust vpon the congregation agaynst the wyll of it, muche lesse ought the minister. And if that congregation had by the commaundement of the Apostles, an interest in the choyse of their gouernours, I see not why the same cōmaundement remayneth not to be followed of other Chur∣ches. Your reasons wherwith you would make difference, shall be after considered,

Io. Whitgifte.

And I haue likewise answered to whatsoeuer you haue sayde there, but you tell vs neyther there nor héere, howe aptely this parte of the texte, scilicet, verse. 26. is in this place quoted. To your reason also gathered oute of the sixte of the Actes in the electing of Deacons I haue there answered: onely I thoughte good in this place to set downe the iudgement of Chrysostome Hom. 14. in Act. Ideò boc non permi∣serunt* 1.5 sorti, ue{que} cum possent ipsi spiritu moti, eligere, hoc faciunt: sed magis statuunt quod multo∣rum testimonijs approbatur. Nam definire numerum, & ordinare, & in talem vsum, hoc sibi ven∣dicant: Eligere autem viros illis permittunt, vt ne videantur ipsi in gratiam quorundam agere. The Apostles dyd not committe the election of Deacons to lotte, neyther they beeyng moued with the spirite, dyd choose them, thoughe they mighte haue so done: for to ap∣poynt the number, to ordayne them, and to suche an vse, they chalenged as due vnto them selues. And yet doe they permitte the election of them to the people, least they shoulde bee thoughte to bee partiall, or to doe any thing for fauoure. Your reasons to proue that to be a perpetuall rule, shall not (God willing) be passed ouer in their place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Act. 1. 2〈1 line〉〈1 line〉▪
• * 1.2

  Matthias e∣lected extra∣ordinarily.
• (s) 1.3

  Act. 6. 2. 3.
• * 1.4

  A good rule may be brokē by some, and yet good still.
• * 1.5

  Chryso. Hom. 14. in Act.